defying the floods

 

On 21 March 2023) Worcester community garden unveiled its latest weapon in the fight against climate change and flooding.

Our new office and tool store, funded by an award from the National Lottery and a grant from Worcester city council, sits on a giant pontoon. When the garden floods – as now happens on an annual basis – the structure is designed to float above the floodwaters, protecting the tools and equipment upon which our volunteers depend.

Cutting the ribbon at the unveiling ceremony was Keith Slater of Community Boost. Keith had been invited to do the honours by grateful community garden trustees after being instrumental in securing funding for the project.

Chair of trustees at Worcester community garden, Steve Dent, said “the floating office and tool store is an imaginative response to the growing challenge that flooding presents for us. It has been a great morale booster to see the structure going up so soon after the damage caused by the January and February floods. We are enormously grateful to Keith Slater for helping us achieve this ambitious milestone.”

Keith Slater said “I am delighted to be cutting the ribbon today. Ever since I was first introduced to the garden and its volunteers I have said that this is one of the hidden jewels in the city’s crown. If anyone wants to see what a huge and positive difference an ever-growing number of volunteers can make to improve the quality of life for all involved, then this community garden is their place to visit.”